Official: Political signs don't violate rules

OAK HARBOR – Political signs for candidates in the November election placed around Oak Harbor do not violate any village rules, the administrator said.

"There are various size restrictions, and placement can vary as well," Oak Harbor Village Administrator Randall Genzman said. "There are currently no restrictions on when political signs can be placed prior to the next election, although our village council is considering an ordinance for this particular type of sign."

The village policy on political signs is the same as general signs used for garage sales or events, he said.

It has become commonplace to see political signs showing support for candidates in residents' yards around Oak Harbor and Port Clinton.

Virginia Bahs of Oak Harbor wrote a letter to the editor published Aug. 16 in the News Herald expressing concerns about the signs Lorrain Croy, a candidate for Ottawa County Common Pleas Court judge, had placed in Oak Harbor.

Bahs alleged Croy "believes that Ottawa County residents and seasonal visitors should be treated to unsightly political yard signs from July through the election."

But Croy noted she went through necessary steps in order to place her signs in residential areas. Before placing signs around the county, Croy said she asked the village about guidelines.

"We're not violating any ordinances," she said. "I did make sure I didn't violate any rules."

Genzman said there is no permit required for signs dealing with realty or politics.

Tracy Colston, Port Clinton safety-service director, said political signs have been addressed by council in the past. He said there are ordinances in place that regulate how often a sign can be posted and where it can be posted.

The ordinance states signs can be posted only for 45 days before they are to be removed or replaced.

Signs must be set back 20 feet from the street right-of-way and cannot infringe on the right-of-way in any way that could be hazardous to the vision of a pedestrian.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-734-7504

Twitter: CraigShoupNH

For more on sign rules

Residents can visit the Oak Harbor's website http://www.oakharbor.oh.us/ to view ordinances and regulations for signs.